Ferrous alloy



Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES CHARLES MEIER, OF VALPARAISO, INDIANA.

FERROUS ALLOY.

No Drawing.

My invention, relates to a. ferrous alloy and it more especially consists of the features pointed out in the annexed claims.

The purpose of my invention is to provide an alloy that may be serviceable in and of itself for the production of iron castings made in permanent steel molds; that may be combined with ordinary pig iron for the same purpose; that by reason of its ingredients there is produced a composition which on bein melted and pouredinto permanent molds d oes not form a scale of carbon adjacent the mold surfaces; that is free flowing; that eliminates the formation of pin holes and other voids in the finished product; and as a summation of the previous purposes, enables me to produce gray iron castings 1n permanent steel molds similar to the die casting of bronzes and white, metals.

In attempts heretofore madeto produce homogeneous, non-scalinglgray 110I1 castings in permanent steel dies,t ey have been practical failures because of the formation of a hard scale of carbon wherever the molten 5 metal touched the surface of the steel mold,

\ and for the further reason that the castings so made have been markedly deficient through the presence of blow holes 1n them. The occurrence of blow holes in cast gears is a serious matter, because the presence of these defects in one or more teeth,

even though not visible, will cause the casting to have no practical value.

. The composition herein described may be used by itself as an alloy, or it may be added to ordinary pig iron, as desired; When used by itself, I have found the following proportion of .ingredients to give desirable results: For instance, carbon from 2 to 4%; silicon 2.5%; 60% chromium 1 to 3%; 25% carbon free titanium 1 to 3%; aluminum to 1% manganese A; to 3%; and phosphorus to 1%. Y When my alloy is used with pig iron have found that I may use carbon 2 parts,

silicon 2.5, chromium 2, titanium 1, manganese 2, aluminum .5, and phosphorus 1, making a total of 11 parts which are combined with 89 parts pig iron.

In making up a charge, if the pig 11011' already contains the'required pro ortlon of carbon, silicon and phosphorus t ese need not be added. The ingredients are brought steel molds.

Application filed 'June 20, 1925. Serial No. 38,438.-

to the meltin point, when the aluminum is added in order to prevent the metal adhering to the mold Walls. There 1s also added chromium and titanium in order to change the loose carbon of the iron to a combined carbon, thus making a homogeneous free flowing composition available for the production of gray iron castings in permanent The presence of the phosphorus insures a greater fluidity of'the melted metal. The absence of phosphorus, aluminium and silicon, will cause the metal to oxidize very rapidly and form pin holes in the finished product.

Silicon, phosphorus and aluminum, if used alone, would have a tendency to more or less separate the carbon particles and thus reduce the physical strength of the product. To overcome this, I use manganese, chromium and carbon free titanium, which through their greater afiinity for carbon'serve to produce a' complete free flowing metal in which the carbon is cooperatively'associated with the other ingredients in a very close relation.

I do not of course limit myself to the exact proportions of the various ingredients'that I have mentioned, as I may vary the same more or less according to the demands of engineering practice; because some conditions require more strength than others and' again some products may need to be made of a softer, and others of a harder, metal. The increase 'of strength is brought about through the use of chromium and titanium. In addition to this feature of these two ingredients, if they are reduced, a softer metal is secured and when they are increased the product becomes relatively harder.

I have subjected my composition to practical tests under varying conditions, and have found the same to give uniform results free from scale, true to mold dimensions, and free from pin holes.

. What I claim is:

1. A ferrous alloy adaptable for use in its melted state in permanent steel molds, comprising 2 to- 4% carbon,.2.5% silicon, chromium 1 to 3%, titanium 1 to 3%, aluminum .5 to -1 %,manganese .5 to 8%, and phosphorus .25 to 1%.

2.,The process of forming a. ferrous alloy for use in its melted state in permanent steel molds which consists in using 89 parts of pig iron with 2 of carbon, 2.5 silicon, 2 chromium, 1 titanium, 2 manganese, .5 aluminum, and 1 part of phosphorus.

3. A ferrous alloy freely flowing under 8 pressure, comprising a substantial amount of carbon but less than two per cent, a substantial amount of aluminum but less than half of one per cent, a, substantial amount of phosphorus of not less-than one per cent combined with not less than two and a half 10 per cent of silicon, two per cent of chromium, one per cent of titanium, two per cent of manganese, and eighty-nine per cent of pig 1IOI1.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES MEIER. 

